Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ibaraki Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ibaraki

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,178 in Ibaraki.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,848 in Ibaraki.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,518 in Ibaraki.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 95% more expensive than in Ibaraki, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Ibaraki is 14% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$6.63 ¥1,034
165.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$31.89 ¥4,975
97.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$5.30 ¥827
118.49%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$3.13 ¥488
-0.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$1.16 ¥181
114.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$0.76 ¥119
128.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$2.53 ¥395
37.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$3.22 ¥502
6.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$2.80 ¥437
-58.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$1.55 ¥242
23.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$4.34 ¥678
-65.44%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$2.10 ¥328
89.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$11.19 ¥1,746
18.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$6.62 ¥1,033
21.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$17.37 ¥2,711
3.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$4.90 ¥765
-52.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.35 ¥366
-25.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$3.17 ¥495
-41.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$4.33 ¥675
-41.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$2.53 ¥394
-27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$2.42 ¥378
-13.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$1.28 ¥200
16.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.81 ¥127
1.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$3.78 ¥590
87.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$7.54 ¥1,177
-21.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$1.84 ¥287
-28.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.21 ¥345
-3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$1.66 ¥258
42.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
$58.7 ¥9,159
-20.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$4.80 ¥749
-15.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$2.85 ¥444
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$19.73 ¥3,079
-13.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$1.17 ¥182
97.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$22.3K ¥3.5M
52.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$15.4K ¥2.4M
168.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$134 ¥20.8K
26.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$24.24 ¥3,783
-20.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$31.64 ¥4,936
5.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$52.1 ¥8,121
-6.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$11.94 ¥1,863
-19.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$552 ¥86.1K
26.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$14.0K ¥2.2M
23.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$26.82 ¥4,185
292.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$33.01 ¥5,150
44.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$67.7 ¥10.6K
48.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$80.4 ¥12.6K
54.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$405 ¥63.3K
309.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$265 ¥41.4K
369.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$1,034 ¥161.3K
186.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$541 ¥84.4K
278.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$4,081 ¥636.8K
91.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$2,033 ¥317.3K
119.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ibaraki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$2,572 ¥401.2K
-36.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
2.09
80.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ibaraki: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $405 in Ibaraki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ibaraki pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $32.00 in Ibaraki. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $317, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs Ibaraki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Ibaraki?
Lisbon and Ibaraki differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,178 including rent). Ibaraki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Ibaraki. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Ibaraki?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $405 in Ibaraki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ibaraki – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,178 in Ibaraki versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ibaraki but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ibaraki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ibaraki?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Ibaraki safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ibaraki are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Ibaraki?
Expats usually find Ibaraki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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